Everything You Want to Know About the Xbox 360 Stingray

At Microsoft’s E3 press conference they announced a redesigned Xbox 360 to look more like the Xbox One design. I thought it was a very strange move but some of the guys here thought it was a cost savings thing for Microsoft. It turns out it wasn’t “we redesigned Xbox 360 to give it a fresh new design and a similar look and feel to Xbox One. Although we’re very excited about Xbox One, we remain dedicated to Xbox 360 now and for years to come.”

It’s really disappointing to hear that instead of transitioning to the new Xbox One, Microsoft wants to keep the Xbox 360 around for the long haul and as a fallback for those who have shoddy internet connection like our military. Related to this, a lot of people expected to see the Xbox 360 get a significant price drop, that won’t be happening for a long time it looks like.

This leaked PR document talks answers tons of questions about the Xbox One as well if you want to take a look. I’ve placed the text relevant to the Xbox 360 Stingray below.

Q: What is the new Xbox 360 you unveiled at E3 (Stingray)?
A: Today, we unveiled the redesigned Xbox 360. It offers an amazing new design and form factor that brings Xbox 360 in line with the look and feel of the Xbox One family. We see this as another indication in our investment and long-term vision for Xbox 360 and its millions of owners worldwide.

Q: When will the redesigned Xbox 360 be available in XYZ country?
A: It will ship in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia starting Tuesday, June 11. It will launch in other regions this fall, with exact dates to be confirmed later.

Q: Was this a cost saving move for Microsoft?
A: No, we redesigned Xbox 360 to give it a fresh new design and a similar look and feel to Xbox One. Although we’re very excited about Xbox One, we remain dedicated to Xbox 360 now and for years to come.

Q: What is the price of the redesigned Xbox 360? Are you dropping the price of Xbox 360?
A: The redesigned Xbox 360 will be available for the same great price and available in the same value-packed editions: 4GB, 250GB and 4GB Kinect bundle.

Q: Why have you not/do you not plan to drop prices on Xbox 360?
A: Xbox 360 continues to be a great value with a full gaming and entertainment experience starting at $199 (MSRP), which includes access to the largest portfolio of games available and an amazing array of entertainment services.

Q: What content are you launching on 360 to support the ecosystem?
A: We are expecting some of the greatest blockbusters of 2013 and 2014 to come out on Xbox 360 such as Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty Ghosts, Madden 25 and FIFA 14 and this will add to the largest game portfolio available. This is in addition to an expanding Platinum Hits selection that will start at $14.99 (ERP) starting in September. Our Xbox Live service will continue to expand with more apps to expand the fantastic entertainment experience and we will continue to have an amazing multi-player experience.

Q: Is the warranty changing on this Xbox 360?
A: The warranty will remain the same. Xbox 360 has always included a standard manufacturer’s warranty in each region, including a one-year limited warranty in the U.S. Please check with your local retailer for retailer-specific warranties.

Q: What’s different about the power and eject buttons on the redesigned Xbox 360?
A: The new power and disc eject buttons work with push buttons vs. capacity touch that was on the previous Xbox 360.

Q: Why did you remove the audio out/SPDIF functionality on the redesigned Xbox 360?
A: Most consumers are able to use their HDMI cable for their audio out needs so we opted to remove the audio out/SPDIF port.

Q: Why did you replace the proprietary AVIP composite cable with the standard 3.5MM A/V Cable?
A: We decided to use the 3.5MM jack to provide users with more cable options instead of limiting users to just the Xbox propriety cable used in the past. The 3.5MM cables are commonly used for many household uses and can be easily found in retail stores.